iStockphoto/Thinkstock(GRANBURY, Texas) -- At least six people were killed and dozens more injured after a series of tornadoes ripped through parts of North Texas destroying homes, authorities said.

More than 100 homes were destroyed in the Rancho Brazos subdivision near Granbury, Texas, where the six people were killed, Hood County Sheriff Roger Deeds said.

Deeds cautioned that the death toll could climb as parts of the subdivision are "heavily damaged" or "completely destroyed" after three tornadoes ripped through the area around 8 p.m. local time Wednesday.

The sheriff said officials were trying to account for 14 people, but it was not clear if they were missing or were away from the area for other reasons.

Many of the homes in the subdivision were built by Habitat for Humanity, Deeds said.

Lake Granbury Medical Center received 48 patients, who were treated for lacerations, fractures and contusions, hospital spokeswoman Dixie Lee Hedgecock said. Some have already been treated and released while others were moved to Fort Worth hospitals.

Granbury, a town of about 8,000 people, is 40 miles southwest of Fort Worth.

More than 100 residents have been bused to makeshift shelters at local churches where the Red Cross will tend to them with supplies and resources.

Rescue crews in Granbury continue to dig through the rubble of destroyed homes and buildings searching for survivors.

The region was hit hard by strong thunderstorms Wednesday that produced heavy rain and hail up to the size of a "softball."

Deeds said the storm intensified around 7:30 p.m. local time. About 40 minutes later, residents were alerted that there were reports of tornadoes in the area.

Deeds revealed the situation may have been far worse if not for the emergency alert.

"We did use our Code Red Emergency Phone Notification System to alert the citizens of the county in the affected areas and in the areas that were going to be affected," he said.